Thripobius javae

Thripobius javae (Girault)

(Formerly known as Thripobius semiluteus Bouček).

Systematic position: Insecta, Holometabola, Hymenoptera, Apocryta, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae.

Morphology: Adults are 0.5-0.8 in length, head and thorax shiny black, abdomen yellow with 2 posterior dark spots, legs and antennae yellow.

Life history: A uniparental, solitary endoparasitoid of several Thripidae, especially Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis. It attacks first or early second stage host larvae. Fecundity comes to 60-100 eggs/female, the life cycle is 3-4 weeks (when honey is available), and adults live for 4-5 days. The optimal temperature is 25°C, whereas much mortality occurs at 30°C.

Economic importance: An important natural enemy of several pestiferous Thripidae, like H. haemorrhoidalis and Hercinothrips femoralis, and may cause about 50-60% host mortality. Due to the fact that T. javae develops faster than H. haemorrhoidalis, it may reduce the pest’s population levels. Its pupae can be stored at 10°C for up to 14 days, with only a moderate (33%) reduction in fitness. Thripobius javae was successfully introduced into Italy and New Zealand.

References

Bernardo, U., Viggiani, G. and Sasso R. 2005. Biological parameters of Thripobius semiluteus Bouček (Hym., Eulophidae), a larval endoparasitoid of Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché) (Thysan., Thripidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 129: 250-257.

Bernardo, U., Iodice, L., Sasso, R. and Pedata, P.A. 2008. Effects of cold storage on Thripobius javae (=T. semiluteus) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 18: 921-933.

Froud, K.J. and Stevens, P.S. 1997. Life table comparison between the parasitoid Thripobius semiluteus and its host greenhouse thrips. Proceedings of the 50th New Zealand Plant protection Society, 232-235.

Swirski, E., Wysoki, M. and Izhar, Y. 2002. Subtropical Fruit Pests in Israel. Fruit Board of Israel. 283+III (in Hebrew with an English Preface).

Websites http://www.bugsinthenews.com/Thripobius%20javae.htm

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